1. About Fifty/Fifty Leadership
2. About the Fifty/Fifty Board
3. Leadership Circles
4. Armenian Freedom Academy
5. H.E.R. Conference to celebrate Women's History Month
6. In the News
7. Events
8. Letters to the Editor
9. Editor's Comments - Why the change, what you can look forward to
10. Membership - How You can be informed and involved
11. To Continue Receiving This Newsletter
12. Final Words

1. ABOUT Fifty/Fifty LEADERSHIP

2. ABOUT THE Fifty/Fifty BOARD
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Ellen Snotland after being awarded a Beautiful People Award

Ellen Snortland, Co-Chair

Ellen is multi-talented - she is an author, having written the book, "Beauty Bites Beast, Awakening the Warrior Within Women and Girls" which is now also published in Spanish; she wrote and has performed around the country a one-woman show, "Now That She's Gone"; for the past 12 years she has had a column in the Pasadena Weekly newspaper; she co-hosted a TV show and currently co-hosts a radio show with Barry Gordon.

Ellen is the creator of the ideas for Leadership Circles and the Freedom Academy and is currently producing a documentary about the empowerment of women in defending themselves based on her book, Beauty Bites Beast.

Pauline Field

Pauline Field, Co-Chair

While leading the effort to establish a women's commission in her city, Pauline was appalled to find how few women are in top leadership positions - anywhere. Be it the professions, the media, government, academia, business, politics, the arts, religion, etc. etc. We have made it to the middle and a token few have made it to the top. But we have not achieved the critical mass necessary to effect real change. To help change that, she took over a non-profit that was languishing and it was re-born as Fifty/Fifty Leadership.

Mi Kim, Secretary

Mi Kim fights for justice for women. Mi is an attorney in private practice and has worked with the Glendale YWCA to establish a legal department that can represent victims of domestic violence and abuse. Her record in court is stellar - winning all the cases for these women.

Barry Allen, Treasurer

Although Barry is "inherited" from the Board of the non-profit in its previous incarnation, he is a full supporter for and of the mission of Fifty/Fifty Leadership.

Diana Davidson

Diana Davidson, Vice President, Membership

Diana Davidson loves to talk to people about Fifty/Fifty Leadership! Born in New York, Diana left the field of education to become a successful financial planning professional, gaining many initials after her name. She sees daily how her profession is a "men's club" - and she leads from within that.

Annika Hylmo, Vice President, Leadership Circles

An Assistant Professor in Communications Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Annika is on the front lines of making students aware of the bias within the media. Annika leads the Leadership Circles program which is in its final stages of readiness to be rolled out.

(Open) Vice President, Armenian Freedom Academy

Do you want to help young Armenian women realize their potential of becoming leaders in their communities in Armenia? Whether you have a lot or a little amount of time, call and let's talk. This exciting program will begin in the Spring of 2007.

Heather Hillman Mutz

Heather Mutz is committed to helping preserve the planet so that all our leaders have a place to call home - and that we all have equal access to it. As well as being a stepmother to three daughters, Heather is pregnant with her first child. She is a Coach, helping people reach their goals.

Yolanda Vazquez

Yolanda Vazquez has been a leader all her life. The oldest of five children, she was a leader in high school and during her college years spoke to many groups of younger students about the value of a college education. Yolanda is pursuing her Master's Degree and plans on working full-time on behalf of women.

3. LEADERSHIP CIRCLES (back to contents)

Leadership Circles are small groups, held in homes, offices, restaurants, church halls, community rooms, etc. They provide an opportunity to hone your leadership skills and learn new ones. Leadership Circles will help you recognize the leadership you already have and express it. "Leadership" has mostly been defined by men; through Leadership Circles we will add our voice to the definition of leadership. The program will be expanding nationally so that everyone who wants to be a leader will have a place to go to share successes, learn how to overcome barriers and break through the ceilings.

4. ARMENIAN FREEDOM ACADEMY
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The Freedom Academy will bring 12 young women who have been identified as potential leaders of their communities in Armenia, to the United States for a year-long program to develop their leadership skills. It is the assertion of the creators of the Freedom Academy that there is a dire need in developing countries such as Armenia for powerful leadership, especially for the untapped human leadership potential in previously neglected leadership talent among women and girls. If the 8 Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations are to be met by the year 2015, it is absolutely essential to create fast track leadership programs for women. After attending the Freedom Academy program the graduates return to Armenia to be integral to developing, implementing and leading projects designed to bring their homeland into line with the 8 Millennium Development Goals.

5. H.E.R. CONFERENCE TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH (back to contents)

Mark your calendars! The Health, Empowerment and Resources Conference for women and girls will take place Saturday, March 24 th from 8:00 a.m. - 1:-00 p.m. in Glendale, California. Fifty/Fifty Leadership is partnering with the YWCA of Glendale to bring a morning of educational and inspiring programs and speakers. More to come!

6. IN THE NEWS (back to contents)

Health Risk - Researchers at Tufts University have found that older women who drink one cola a day have bone density 3.7 - 5.4% lower than those who drink less than one per month. This is not so for men.

Women Leaders in Business - There are currently 12 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies - up from 5 in 2003. Better, but the "glass ceiling" hasn't been shattered yet!

Stalking: Prelude to Violence - Safe cell phones and secure computers are often a central part of battered women's safety plans, as they seek to escape abuse. However, abusers increasingly are using phone records, computer software that displays every key typed, and other technologies to stalk, monitor, control and terrify their victims.

Studies have shown that stalking is a red flag showing a high risk of a woman's homicide. Nine out of 10 women killed by intimate partners have been stalked during the previous year, research shows. One-third of women stalked by a current or former partner are sexually assaulted, according to the National Institute of Justice, a government research office.

"When a victim presents herself to law enforcement, it doesn't necessarily look that dangerous," says Sandy Bromley, an attorney with the Stalking Resource Center at the National Center for Victims of Crime in Washington, D.C. "Individual incidents alone usually would not be criminal, but when you add them together in a pattern of following, calling and using technology to track a victim, it becomes a type of behavior that is designed to induce fear. And it works."

To read the full story on Women's Enews, click on: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2905

Leading with Vroom - Danica Patrick, Race Car Driver, was named by Newsweek magazine as one of twenty women poised to be the next generation of leader.

For the full story, click here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14870541/site/newsweek

7. EVENTS (back to contents)

Please let us know of events in YOUR area that we can post here. If you know of conferences, programs that will inform, educate and inspire, we will consider them for publication. Ed.

Monday, November 13, 2006

The Preventing Abuse Conference
on human trafficking and child protection
presented by the Cedars Cultural and Educational Foundation

***  Internet Safety; helping to protect children/families from predators and porn.
***  What can be done to help protect children from abduction.
***  What to do if the unthinkable happens
***  Helping victims and protect against the effects of human trafficking
***  Legislation updates:  Good news for children and family protection?
***  What fuels the demand for exploiting of women and children and how to stop it
***  The Church's importance to protect and free women and children.   
***  The truth about pornography's impact and what can be done to stop it.
***  The national security threat of human trafficking of women and children. Why?
       What is and can be done?

  Date:    Monday, November 13, 2006
Time :  8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Place:   Sheraton Universal Hotel, 333 Universal Hollywood Dr. , Universal City , CA
Room reservations:   Call 800-325-3535

Registration Cost:     Your registration includes all day conference attendance and banquet lunch with special VIP speaker    
$34.00 per person
$29.00 per person for students

Call 866-454-1776 to Register

February 2007

Save the Date!

February 2007

The Challenge of Africa, The Promise of Africa

University of Southern California and UNA Pasadena presents a major international conference to create a better future for the African continent

For more information, click here: www.unapasadena.org

8. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (back to contents)

Are you too busy? Overworked? Overwhelmed? Take on too much? Do take one of those valuable minutes to let us know that - it let's others know they are not alone.

You're none of the above? Then write and let us know what you think - about any item in the newsletter, about something that is happening in the world - or that is happening or has happened to you. And. think about joining us at Fifty/Fifty Leadership as we grow - there's room for everyone!

9. EDITOR'S COMMENTS (back to contents)

In 2003, the first newsletter went out to a few supporters as a way to keep everyone informed on the progress in establishing the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women. As we progressed, it was clear we needed a name for the newsletter and readers came up with, The Equality Standard.

Fifty/Fifty Leadership is currently being driven by a band of passionate, dedicated and committed women and men. As mentioned below under Membership and Subscriptions, this group has only so much time and we are busy creating programs to help increase leadership skills in women and girls in the U.S. and around the world. The Glendale Commission on the Status of Women is flourishing, thanks to its excellent Commissioners and Staff. So, it is time to move on and focus our efforts on Fifty/Fifty Leadership. Last month the Board of Directors voted to fold The Equality Standard into Fifty/Fifty Leadership and have it be our newsletter.

Change is always hard; we resist it - I know, I help people deal with change every day in my business - but it is inevitable. To help you and me through this, I would love to hear your comments - good, bad, sad, angry, happy. We'll publish them all - and please let us know if you would rather be anonymous and we will definitely respect that.

10. MEMBERSHIP - HOW YOU CAN BE INFORMED AND INVOLVED (back to contents)

Becoming a member in Fifty/Fifty is your statement that you want to add your voice to help transform our culture such that when leaders are chosen, they are chosen equally - women to men. What else is in it for you?

• Your subscription to this newsletter, The Equality Standard so you'll have facts about women and girls locally, nationally and internationally, plus learn about events of interest in Los Angeles, New York, D.C., Sacramento, and more

• Discounts at many events put on by Fifty/Fifty Leadership

• Your name will be added to our website as a supporter of the work we are doing

• Your membership may be tax deductible - please check with your tax professional

Can you be involved without becoming a member? Yes. Subscriptions to The Equality Standard are $12 per year. As a special offer for the launch of this new newsletter, if you subscribe between now and December 31, 2006, you will receive the newsletter until December 31, 2007. You can pay by check or credit card. Please send your check or the credit card information below to Equality Standard, P.O. Box 11202, Glendale, CA 91226 or you can call or email your credit card information to PaulineField@charter.net , 818-243-2322

(Click here for printer-friendly subscription form)

Name (as it appears on the card)__________________________________________

Billing Address _______________________________________________________

City______________________________________State________ Zip____________

Telephone ( )_________________________________

Card # __________________ Expiration Date ___/___ 3 or 4 Digit on back of card_____

Amount $_____ Date___________

11. TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER (back to contents)

As stewards of the resources of Fifty/Fifty Leadership and with dedication to the women and girls we serve, we can no longer continue to use those valuable resources to provide this newsletter free of charge. If you are reading this, you will continue to receive it through the end of the year. In January 2007, however, it will be sent only to members and subscribers. It also can be viewed on the Fifty/Fifty website, www.Fifty/Fifty.us , but to receive it directly to your emailbox, membership or a subscription will be required.

12. FINAL WORDS (back to contents)

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."